title: Mobile garbage bins and hand injuries in older people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a database search, chart and literature review of open extensor tendon and proximal interphalangeal joint injuries incurred while handling mobile garbage bins.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of medical records at a Sydney tertiary referral hospital and a NSW rural Level 2 trauma hospital from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010, identified through database searches of appropriate medical record codes and followed by a chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 11 patients with finger injuries from handling mobile garbage bins that necessitated hospital-based treatments. Their average age was 75 years. Eight patients required surgery. Patients typically fell while maintaining their grip on mobile garbage bin handles, causing abrasive injury to the dorsal aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older patients are at risk of significant injuries to the dorsal side of their fingers when manoeuvring mobile garbage bins. This risk could be reduced by providing older members of the community with help to move their bins, or by modifying the design of bin handles. We propose a simple modification to the design of bin handles.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Woodbridge
authors.forename: Belinda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005735:Garbage; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies